Andy Fisher new business development director for Software Asset Management (SAM) specialist BCS Ltd analyses the “state of the nation” in software compliance control today. It is generally accepted that the global financial crisis is affecting the revenues of all commercial companies, including all the largest software authors. Consequently, industry analysts predict a significant increase... 

Robin Trebec, IT Asset Manager at Chevron, will be presenting a session at IAITAM next month entitled “I don’t need friends at work, I have friends at home: ITAM from the trenches”. I recently corresponded with Robin regarding her upcoming session and her experiences as an IT Asset Manager. ITAM Review Q. Please tell me a little about your background I have over 15 years experience in ITAM management... 

Software Usage Monitoring - Measure to Improve Efficiency This article aims to provide an introduction to software usage, clarify terminology and perhaps help you build a business case for implementing software usage monitoring. Introduction I have spoken to a number of organizations recently who claim to have a good process for tracking ‘Goods In’ and assets coming into the business but admit... 

I have been travelling the length and breadth of the UK over the last couple of weeks meeting with clients and attending events. Idle time on trains during this period got me thinking about what the software licensing industry can learn from the railways, and in particular, what can be learnt from how the rail transport industry protects its revenue and manages the compliance of travellers (Its amazing... 

I recently conducted a quick straw poll regarding the concept of ‘Guaranteed Software Compliance’.  Thank you to all those that responded (n=74). In a nutshell, the premise was: “Would a software compliance insurance policy, which paid out in the event of a shortfall in an audit, be of interest to you?”  (See the original article here). General Consensus: Nice idea, I’d... 

Gartner mentioned an interesting concept in their April 2010 Marketscope for ITAM tools. In the section on Software License Compliance they state that some organisations view their ITAM program as an insurance policy against the threat of software audits (Invest fixed costs in one to prevent larger unplanned costs in the other). “Savvy IT organisations recognise that, when an audit occurs, the... 

A short, concise video on the importance of being proactive and conducting your own internal audits before being approached by a software vendor.  The most important point made by GC Hutson from Sadien is that organisations assuming they are compliant is the most costly mistake. Thanks to Scott for the link. Martin Thompson Martin is an independent software industry analyst, SAM consultant and... 

I recently corresponded with a former audit manager from a top tier software vendor. He kindly shared his tips for dealing with compliance audits from a vendor perspective. Martin Thompson Martin is an independent software industry analyst, SAM consultant and founder of The ITAM Review and The ITSM Review. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn. More Posts –... 

The table below summarises the different results achieved by an organisation faced with a vendor audit depending on their maturity. Success with vendor audits is not only about having sound ITAM processes and procedures in place but also the correct attitude towards the situation, swift action, and strong negotiation. I welcome your feedback or comments on this model or your experiences with vendor... 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about ten leaks that occur in software management processes that might lead an organisation to fall out of compliance. Martin Thompson Martin is an independent software industry analyst, SAM consultant and founder of The ITAM Review and The ITSM Review. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn. More Posts – Website Follow Me:  Read More →